Liam Neeson's
son Micheál is opening up about the untimely death
of his mother
Natasha Richardson in 2009, revealing his struggle to grieve. The
19-year-old admits he had a "delayed reaction" and the devastating loss
affected his teenage years.

Micheál with his mom and brother in 2008 Photo: Getty Images

Micheál
was studying at a New England boarding school when Natasha died after
falling during a skiing lesson in Canada six years ago. "Of
course, when it happened it was devastating," he told the Sunday Times Style magazine. "But in my mind, subconsciously, I either pushed it
out or stored it deep inside. And so, within the next week I was like, 'OK,
get on with my life'."

Liam waves from the funeral service of his wife Natasha Photo: Getty Images

Unfortunately,
the teen admits he turned to partying in New York after school to look "for
self-gratification" and cope with the emotional pain. "Everybody
said, 'This kid has lost his mom, that's where the problem comes from,'"
he told the magazine. "And I was, like, 'No, it isn't, I just like to
party.'"

The
partying became too much and Micheál hit rock bottom and admitted he needed
help. "Last spring, things just started going downhill," he said. "The
people I was with, we were partying a lot. I couldn't leave my house. I was
unmotivated, couldn't wake up in the morning. It was dark. I hit rock bottom
and couldn't do anything."

Natasha was known for being a talented actress Photo: Getty Images

He sought
help at a center in the desert of Utah where he slept in a tent as part of
treatment. "Not having the mother figure definitely set the balance of the
family off," he admitted. "I am the eldest. When I was younger, I
was more of a momma's boy
, my brother was more of a dad's boy. So I took
solace in my friends, just living with different families."

Micheál posed with family members on a recent red carpet Photo: Getty Images

Now
working as a fashion gallery curator in London, Micheál
credits his father
Liam to helping turn his life around. "He came from a small town,
Ballymena." said Micheál. "His mum was a dinner lady at the school,
his family ran a pub. It took him years to make it. He's an inspiration.
He's a hard-working man, his mindset is still like his parents. I respect
that."

Liam and Natasha were openly affectionate on the red carpet Photo: Getty Images

Liam opened up last year about his own struggle over his wife's death. "[Her death] was never real. It still kind of isn't," the Taken star told Anderson Cooper on 60 Minutes in 2014. "There's periods now in our New York residence when I hear the door opening, especially the first couple of years ... anytime I hear that door opening, I still think I'm going to hear her."